Value: It?s a close call and the Mini starts strongly with an extra gear ratio and convenience items such as auto headlights and rain-sensing wipers. Shares features with the Volvo, including foglights and cruise control.

Inside: Very love-it-or-leave-it, with the large central speedo, quirky dash layout and sparse small-item storage. Boxy design yields good front-seat space, although the tiny rear seat and boot are no better than the Volvo?s. Five-star crash safety.

Engine: Good from a standing start, with the six-speeder providing an extra fuelsipping overdrive gear over the Volvo. The stop-start system is easy to catch asleep at the lights or in heavy traffic but there is an off switch. Gear-change indicator helps eke out economy.

How it drives: Just like a regular Mini. Still fun to pitch into corners, with enough diesel growl to provide an entertaining soundtrack. Run-flat tyres don?t like lowspeed bumps much, though.

Green cred: Looks just like any other Mini, so doesn?t flaunt its miserly fuel use. The $3000-plus premium over the petrol-engine version will take some time to earn fuel-economy stripes. It?s tough to hit official fuel-use figures in the real world.

Verdict: A real sleeper that can tool along sipping fuel but bare plenty of its teeth when asked. Doesn?t feel as though you?re yielding anything for joining the exclusive sub-4.0L/100km club.

Value: Cheapest way into the uniquely styled Volvo hatchback. Gains dual-zone climate control over the Mini and steps up to 16-inch alloy hoops over the Mini?s 15s. Like the Mini, there?s just enough gear to make it feel premium.

Inside: Floating centre console with a storage bay hidden behind it is a signature feature. Nice aluminium highlights but some plastics feel a little cheap, as does the seat cloth. The rear hatch opening is much smaller than the Mini?s, limiting its use. Five-star crash safety.

Engine: A little hesitant off the mark but good torque spread means decent in-gear acceleration for overtaking and keeping up with city traffic. The stop-start system seems to kick in a bit quicker than the Mini?s. Gear-change indicator is easier to see.

How it drives: Handles high-speed bumps better than the Mini but never feels as sharp or as fun to drive. The low-speed ride is a little uncivilised and the interior can get a bit noisy on coarse-chip surfaces.

Green cred: Prius-inspired wheels and unique aero pack may cut through the air more cleanly but don?t add anything to visual appeal. Otherwise, it?s just another small Volvo. Equally tough to hit fuel claims in normal driving. A cleaner, more powerful engine is due in a few months.

Verdict: The interior?s more luxurious feel and minimalist air trump the Mini but lesser driving dynamics and slightly slightly less convincing engine rob the Volvo of victory in this instance.

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The size of your tyre is located on the sidewall of your tyre.It will be similar to the sample below.